Take back land from Andhra Pradesh housing society: FGG

​​The then government had allotted 674 acres of land in Gopanapally, Gachibowli, Neknampur and Jawaranagar to the secretariat housing society to build houses for the employees.TNN | August 24, 2019, 18:00 IST

HYDERABAD: The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) on Friday demanded that the government take back 674 acres (worth Rs 3,000 crore as per market value) from the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat Employees’ Mutually Aided Cooperative Housing Society Limited, charging it with committing financial and other irregularities.

In a letter to governor ESL Narasimhan, FGG said this was a huge housing scam. It said no action had been taken in the last nine years though the vigilance department enquiry had conclusively pointed out the irregularities in its July 2010 report on the mega housing programme.

The then government had allotted 674 acres of land in Gopanapally, Gachibowli, Neknampur and Jawaranagar to the secretariat housing society to build houses for the employees.

Secretary, FGG, M Padmanabha Reddy told TOI that the vigilance report was presented before the general body of the society in 2016, which rejected the charges.

“It is surprising as to how serious lapses pointed out by the vigilance wing can be dismissed by a general body of the housing society. We have requested the governor to take strong action,” he said.

The report mentioned that plots were alloted in violation of the society’s rules and bylaws. Persons already having houses in some other societies were allotted plots, while the management committee paid huge money to contractors without checking the quality of the construction material.

“The general body’s approval was not taken for allotment of plots. Secretariat employees were also allotted plots by the president and secretary without holding the general body meeting,” the report said.

It further said records were tampered to show that the general body meeting was held. “There was huge misappropriation of funds also.”

The vigilance report had recommended cancellation of allotment of plots and no spending of money collected from the members. It also said allotment of plots with excess area should be charged at market value and recommended action against officials and office-bearers of the society for the irregularities.